British actress, Emma Watson, best known for her role as Hermione Granger in the “Harry Potter” film series, has been handed a six-month driving ban after a speeding violation.
The 35-year-old was recorded driving her blue Audi at 38 mph in a 30-mph zone in Oxford, England, on the night of July 31, 2023.
Watson did not attend the brief proceedings at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday but was fined £1,044 (approximately $1,400) and barred from driving, PA Media confirmed.
In a curious twist of fate, shortly after Watson’s case concluded, her former “Harry Potter” co-star Zoë Wanamaker also faced sentencing for a separate speeding charge.
Wanamaker, renowned for her stage work and remembered for her role as Quidditch referee Madam Hooch in the franchise’s first film, received an identical penalty.
She was caught driving at 46 mph in a 40-mph zone in Berkshire in August last year, according to PA.
Reports noted that both actresses had already accumulated nine penalty points on their driving records before these most recent infractions.
District Judge Arvind Sharma added three more points to each of their licenses on Wednesday, which, under UK law, triggered an automatic six-month driving disqualification.
The back-to-back court decisions brought a notable coincidence for the two actresses who once roamed the magical halls of Hogwarts and now find themselves grounded at the same time.
Watson, who transitioned from wizarding stardom to pursuits in academia, directing, and gender equality advocacy, has continued to appear on screen, with standout performances in “Beauty and the Beast” and Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of “Little Women.”
